Messiaen's Visions of Amen

In 2004, while studying Olivier Messiaen's music, Calvin professor Hyesook Kim, piano, found herself wishing she knew more about the religious perspective of the French composer. Olivier Messiaen had stated the sole purpose of his music was to point people to Christ yet little had been written about the connection between his faith and his music.

Professor Kim with colleagues Steve Schloesser, of Loyola University, and pianist Stephane Lemelin, of McGill University, received a grant from the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship to explore the subject of Messiaen's faith and music. The fruits of this project culminated in the recent publication of Steve Schloesser's Visions of Amen: The Early Life and Music of Olivier Messiaen.

A recording of Messiaen's Visions de l'Amen, performed by Hyesook Kim and Stephane Lemelin, is included with the book. This concert is to celebrate the completion of their project.